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SRINAGAR : Continuing its endeavour to fulfil the constitutional commitment of providing swift, cost-effective, and efficient dispute resolution to the masses in general and the litigant public in particular, the J&K Legal Services Authority under the patronage of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority), the dynamic leadership of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and the able guidance of Justice Sanjay Dhar, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee organized Second National Lok Adalat of the year 2026 across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, to promote amicable settlements in a wide range of cases, including MACT claims, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes, and compoundable criminal offences.
With a view to facilitating meaningful settlements, pre-Lok Adalat sittings and counselling sessions were held well in advance by the Legal Services Institutions across the Union Territory. Awareness programmes, coordination meetings and sensitization sessions were also conducted at different levels to encourage litigants and stakeholders to avail the benefits of Lok Adalat as an effective mode of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority inaugurated the National Lok Adalat at District Court Complex, Srinagar. Upon his arrival, the Justice Sanjeev Kumar was received by Haq Nawaz Zargar, Principal District & Sessions Judge (Chairperson, DLSA) Srinagar, Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, Tasleem Arief, Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, Tabasum Qadir Parray, Secretary, DLSA Srinagar along with other Judicial Officers of the District Judiciary.
During his visit, the Executive Chairman inspected various benches constituted for the Lok Adalat and interacted with the Presiding Officers, members of the benches, Advocates and litigants, appreciating the arrangements made for the smooth and effective conduct of the Lok Adalat. Several disputes were amicably settled on the spot with the active intervention of the benches. MACT compensation cheques were also distributed among eligible beneficiaries, providing timely relief to the claimants.
As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts across the UT of J&K, out of total 89,222 cases taken up by 180 Benches in the day long National Lok Adalat, 83,623cases were amicably settled and disposed off involving an amount of Rs.42,09,04,185/-as compensation/settlement amount in cases like Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery etc.
While interacting with the Judicial Officers and other stakeholders, Justice Sanjeev Kumar appreciated the collective efforts of the Judicial Officers, Secretaries, District Legal Services Authorities, Advocates, Legal Aid Defence Counsels, Para Legal Volunteers, court staff and all other stakeholders for their active participation in making the 2nd National Lok Adalat of 2026 successful.
Highlighting the importance of Lok Adalats, the Justice Sanjeev Kumar stated that Lok Adalats serve as an effective mechanism for alternative dispute resolution by enabling parties to settle disputes amicably in a speedy and cost-effective manner, thereby reducing pendency of cases and strengthening the justice delivery system. He urged the litigant public to take maximum advantage of such initiatives and resolve their disputes through consensus.
Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, also appreciated the coordinated efforts of all District Legal Services Authorities and other Legal Services Institutions across the Union Territory. She reiterated that the J&K Legal Services Authority shall continue to strengthen the mechanism of Alternative Dispute Resolution so that justice reaches the doorsteps of the people, particularly the marginalized and underprivileged sections of society.
She further informed that the 3rd National Lok Adalat of the current calendar year shall be held on September 12, 2026 and urged the litigants who could not get their matters listed or settled in today’s Lok Adalat to avail the opportunity in the next National Lok Adalat.
The Member Secretary also highlighted that, apart from National Lok Adalats, other focused Lok Adalat initiatives are being undertaken, including “Samadhan Samaroh”, an initiative relating to suitable cases pending before the Supreme Court of India, which commenced on April 21, 2026 and shall culminate in a Special Lok Adalat on August 21, 22 and 23, 2026.
She further informed that Special Lok Adalats for cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, particularly cheque dishonour matters, shall also be held on July 18, 2026 and November 21, 2026, and called upon the litigants, advocates and stakeholders to come forward and make full use of these opportunities for amicable and timely settlement of their disputes.
